Frequently asked questions about sharing information with local school systems [2006]

Frequently Asked Questions by Families about
Sharing Information with Local School Systems

What does the Law say? Babies Can't Wait (BCW) is Georgia's Part C Early Intervention Program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), the same law that governs special education services for children in public school systems. Part C is the system of early intervention supports for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth to age 3 and their families. In Georgia, the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Public Health administers Babies Can't Wait. BCW is required to share child find referral information with the public school system to meet the obligations under the IDEA.

What are the Child Find obligations? Part C (Babies Can't Wait) Child Find responsibilities under IDEA:
Must identify, locate and screen or evaluate all infants and toddlers, birth through two years of age, who have or are suspected of having developmental delays. (34 CFR 303.321)
Ensure that the child find system is coordinated with all other major efforts to locate and identify children by other state agencies responsible for administering the various education, health, and social services programs and that there will not be unnecessary duplication of effort by the various agencies. (34 CFR 303.321)

Part B (Department of Education Division for Exceptional Students) Child Find responsibilities under IDEA:
Locate, identify and evaluate all children age 0-21 with disabilities residing in the state, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services. (34 CFR 300.125)
Why is Babies Can't Wait giving the DOE information about my child? The Department of Education or Part B is required to identify and serve all children with disabilities who live in the state. Babies Can't Wait or Part C must help them by providing "notification" information on each child who might be eligible for special education services unless a parent does not want to have this information shared. Your BCW service coordinator will provide a form that you need to sign if this is your decision.
What is notification? Written information that is provided by Part C (BCW) to inform or notify the Department of Education (DOE or Part B) of children who are currently receiving BCW services and may be eligible for special education.
What information will BCW provide to the DOE? Child's name Child's date of birth Parent contact information including name, address and telephone number Additional information, including a child's disability or delay and early intervention supports and services, cannot be shared without prior written consent.

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Do you need my permission to send this information? No, Babies Can't Wait does not need permission to send this information. Parents who do not want to have this information shared must refuse or object in writing. If parents do not refuse or object in writing, this information will be shared.
I thought the information in my child's Babies Can't Wait record was confidential. How can you send that without my consent? BCW does not have to obtain parental consent to provide individual child and family information to school systems to help find children who may be eligible for special education. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which protects the confidentiality of all education records includes an exception that allows the sharing of information for child find purposes without prior parent consent. However, the information that will be sent will only include your child's name, date of birth and contact information. All other information, including your child's diagnosis, will be kept confidential and will not be sent. In order to share any additional information, you will be asked to give informed written consent using a separate form that your service coordinator can provide.
When will information be shared? Notification information will be sent to your local school system in the month immediately after your child's 2nd birthday. If your child initially enters Babies Can't Wait after 24 months of age, this information will be sent to your local school system in the month immediately after the development of his or her individualized family service plan (IFSP).
Who will this information be sent to? This information will be sent to the Special Education Director in your local school system. If you live in a county where one or more city school system(s) also operate, the information will be sent to each system to be sure that notification is received by the appropriate system.
How will the information be used? This information will be used by the local school system(s) to contact families by telephone and/or U.S. Mail. Local school systems want to share information with families about the services and programs they offer that may be options for children exiting Babies Can't Wait.
If I do not want this information to be shared with the local school system, will it affect future opportunities to get services through the public school system for my child? No. If you decide not to share this information, it will not affect any future decisions that you may make for your child as he/she prepares to exit from Babies Can't Wait at three years of age.
What if I have more questions? Contact your local Babies Can't Wait Early Intervention Coordinator, BCW Parent Educator (http://education.gsu.edu/sceis/Parent_Education.htm), or the State Babies Can't Wait office at 404657-2726 or toll free at 888-651-8224. Or visit the Babies Can't Wait webpage periodically for updated information: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw/

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